Gov. Henry McMaster took to social media Thursday to share who he wants to become the state's next agriculture commissioner.
Cody Simpson, who has not yet declared his candidacy, previously served as McMaster's chief executive assistant and agriculture adviser. Last year, President Donald Trump appointed Simpson as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s executive director for South Carolina.
The president also gave his support to Simpson on Thursday.
He wrote on Truth Social, "Should he decide to enter this Race, Cody Simpson has my Complete and Total Endorsement...RUN CODY RUN!"
The winner of the race will succeed longtime Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers. He is set to retire at the end of his term.
On Facebook Friday, Simpson posted to Facebook that he will "prayerfully consider" whether to enter the statewide race.
"In the coming weeks, I will prayerfully consider the President’s and Governor’s call to determine how I—a fifth-generation South Carolina farmer—can best continue serving the state I love so dearly and help Make Agriculture Great Again!" he said.
Currently, two other candidates in the race pool are Republicans Jeremy Cannon and Fred West, who Weathers endorsed.
